Question and Answer Samples and Techniques

Raymond Wilson

POISONED TALK

a. Fill in the blanks in this passage about the poem POISONED TALK. Use the word given

The poem Poisoned Talk by Raymond Wilson is about the lethal effects of pollution

on the (1)____________________. Each verse begins with a (2) ____________

about who is responsible for the (3) __________ of an element of nature. This is

followed by a (4) _______________ by the guilty party. The culprit explains how

he committed the (5) ____________. From his explanation, we realise the death

was caused by (6) ____________. The real killer is (7) _________, who polluted

the earth.

confession man

environmentcrime

pollutionquestion

death

a. Who confessed to killing cock robin?The worm confessed

B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM POISONED TALK.

b. What ‘great harm’ did the worm do to cock robin?

c. Where did cock robin die?

d. What poisoned the worm?Acid soil poisoned the worm

The worm poisoned cock robin

Cock robin died on a branch of a withered tree

a. Who confessed to killing the heron?The fish confessed

B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM POISONED TALK.

b. Where does the heron lives?

c. What does the tainted mean?

d. What kind of birds are the tern, duck and drake?They are birds of the lake / water birds

The heron lives by the lake

It means contaminated / polluted

a. Who confessed to killing the lake?Industry confessed

B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM POISONED TALK.

b. How does the killer feel about his crime?

c. What is ‘weapon’ used by the killer?

d. Why did the culprit commit the crime?The culprit did it to please greedy men

The killer feels proud

The ‘weapon’ used by the killer is mercury

a. Who confessed to killing the flowers?The wind confessed

B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM POISONED TALK.

b. What does ‘prowl unconfined’ mean?

c. How were the flowers killed?

d. Why do you think the poet uses alliteration in the last line (line 20)?

Alliteration was used to echo the sound of the wind blowing

The phrase means to move around freely and stealthily

The flowers were poisoned by acid rain

a. Who confessed to killing the forest?Sulphur dioxide confessed

B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM POISONED TALK.

b. What does the word ‘ensured’ (line 22) tell us about this crime?

c. What does word ‘life’ refer to?

d. What does the last line (line 25) tell us about the power of the killer? Give reason for your answer.

The last line tells us that the killer is very powerful because it can kill all living creatures

The crime was committed on purpose. / the killing was planned./ the killer wanted the victim to die.

The word ‘life’ refers to living things, birds, animals, trees and plants

Describe your feelings about pollution after reading this poem.After reading the poem, I feel very concerned about

the effects of pollution on nature and the environment. In the poem, it is revealed that birds, animals, plants and whole forests are being poisoned by pollution. The culprits who say they caused the deaths of the birds, lake, flowers and forest are not really the killers. Man is the real killer because of greed. If we do not stop our harmful actions, the environment will be destroyed. I will do my part to stop pollution.

PT3 EXAM PRACTICES

a. How did the worm kill cock robin?The worm was poisonous because of acid soil and cock robin died of poisoning

when he ate the worm

Read the poem Poisoned Talk and answer the following questions

b. How does Industry feel about killing the lake?

c. Name two poisonous substances mentioned in the poem

d. Do you think the fish should be blamed for the death of the birds of the lake? Give a reason for your answer

No, I do not think that the fish should be blamed. The fish became poisonous because his flesh was contaminated by pollution and the birds died eating his flesh

Industry feel proud (and happy)

Mercury and sulphur dioxide

a. Cock robin and the birds of the lake died of the same cause. What is the cause of their deaths?

They died of poisoning when they fed on animals that were poisoned / contaminated by pollution.

Read the poem Poisoned Talk and answer the following questions

b. Who took the blame for killing the flowers?

c. What did sulphur dioxide destroy?

d. In your opinion, why did the poet write this poem? Give a reason for your answer

No, I do not think that the fish should be blamed. The fish became poisonous because his flesh was contaminated by pollution and the birds died eating his flesh

The wind took the blame for killing the flowers

Sulphur dioxide destroyed the forest and all living things in it

In your opinion, why did the poet write this poem? Give a reason for your answer

The poet wrote this poem to make us realise that we must take responsibility for environmental destruction / that we must stop polluting the environment. The poem is about creatures and poisonous substances confessing to killing elements of the environment but they are really not the culprits because the are not human and they cannot control their actions.